Origin
Gateway, AK
Morning in Gateway on Wednesday
Local time
9:53 AM
AKDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
35h 16m
Distance
1638.4 mi
2,637 km
Drive Score
4/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$355
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
34h 45m
★
6 AM
35h 16m
8 AM
36h 20m
10 AM
35h 39m
12 PM
35h 32m
3 PM
35h 42m
5 PM
36h 17m
8 PM
34h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gateway, AK
Tito Zzzz
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1638.4 miles and takes about 35h 16m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
This route mixes long travel segments with more detailed approach driving, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $355.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
10 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
Use the map to pace the middle of the drive
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 1638.4 miles and 35h 16m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 35h 16m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Navigation is easy, but the length (35h 16m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 10 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gateway, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gateway, AK
Aim for roughly 410 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 410 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 410 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 410 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Gateway, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 10 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Overnight Options
Night 1
Overnight stop window
410 mi · about 8.8h in
A practical overnight split lands around 410 miles or 8.8 hours into the drive.
Find hotelsNight 2
Overnight stop window
819 mi · about 17.6h in
A practical overnight split lands around 819 miles or 17.6 hours into the drive.
Find hotelsNight 3
Overnight stop window
1229 mi · about 26.5h in
A practical overnight split lands around 1229 miles or 26.5 hours into the drive.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 410 miles or 8.8 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
Arriving in Ketchikan, AK
The final approach into Ketchikan, AK usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ketchikan, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ketchikan, AK with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$355.09 one way
$710.19 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
573 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $373.41 | $746.83 |
| premium | $5.98 | $385.73 | $771.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $361.74 | $723.48 |
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$355
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$695–$975
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 573.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $172 in charging · 6 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 491.5 | 6 | $172.03 | $78.64 |
| Efficient EV | 409.6 | 4 | $143.36 | $65.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 655.4 | 8 | $229.38 | $104.86 |
Gas CO2
573 kg
EV CO2
192 kg (66% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 6 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Ketchikan, AK
Morning in Ketchikan on Wednesday
Local time
9:53 AM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
35h 16m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1638.4 miles and takes about 35h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 410 miles on day one.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $355.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 10 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Navigation is easy, but the length (35h 16m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gateway, AK to Ketchikan, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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